Serene and Stunning Santorini

When one thinks of Santorini a beautiful white and blue post card picture comes to the mind. Well, I have been lucky enough to have visited and stayed in this post card twice in the last 5 years. This summer I revisited Santorini with my husband and friends and was enchanted all over by this beautiful volcanic island!

Landing in Santorini

This is a quick snap from the flight.. promising a great holiday right there!

We checked into our hotels in Fira – the main stunning cliff-perched town. The next few pictures are of the hotel and the surrounding areas. My friends and I were split across 2 adjacent hotels – Villa Remvi and Hotel Galini. Needless to say, the view from our hotels was breathtaking. The hotet rates in this part of Santorini are quite steep as compared to other areas in Santorini, but I totally recommend staying in Fira in one of its boutique hotels – simply for the view. You can spend hours just gazing from your window/ balcony.

Our Hotel GaliniView from our balconyView from the roomView from FiraSurrounding hotels in FiraA small restaurant near our hotelThe porchMy handsome husband 😉

One of the most famous things of Santorini is the magnificent sunset form Oia. So in the evening we took our bikes and rode to Oia. On the way we came across many picture-perfect and romantic sights.

On our way to OiaSupermarket!Near the supermarketThe beautiful blue ocean and the shipsThe ChurchThe volcanic islands and the seaMagnificent view from next to the churchAt the church – sun ready to set

Bikes are a great way to get around in the island. They offer a stunning view and you can just stop by the side of the road and take pictures. However, travel at night can get tricky due to the wind and cold. Hiring a small car is also a good option, but avoid a big car for sure given the thin twisting roads in the cliffs. So if you have a group of 6, I’d recommend hiring 2 cars.

At Oia we enjoyed this pleasant sunset experience with some great wine at the Sunset Cafe (a very small cafe just by the side of the road) . The cafe was obviously buzzing with tourists like us.

The next morning we decided to ride all the way to Perissa beach to capture some interesting photos,soak up the sun and sip happy cocktails at the beach!

The morning seaA few more ships from the hotelVery close in FiraThe famous blue church domePerissa beachSoaking up the sun and alcohol

At the end of this short stay in Santorini, we relaxed for the last few hours at the Thira port and then took an evening ferry to Athens.

Our sea jet from Santorini to AthensChilling at the port

A few more tips for Santorini and Greece.

If time and budget permits then stay for at least 3 days in Santorini if you want to relax and enjoy the town. The nightlife is quite good. You can even spend a day in an excursion around the island on a private boat. Just make sure you check the weather for the month you plan to visit in. The cliff-towns can get really cold and windy sometimes.

If you are keen on seeing 1 more island in Greece, Mykonos is a great choice. Additionally, it has an even better night life. There is a tiny part of the island called Little Venice which has some good cafes.

Ideally keep Santorini towards the end of your trip to Greece. It will undoubtedly be the best part of your holiday, and also Santorini has a relatively large international airport. So you need not go back to Athens for your return journey.

However, while we talk about the mainland, I recommend visiting Athens on the way to the islands, right at the start of your trip. The Acropolis is quite unique and should not be missed if you are traveling all the way to Greece. Also, the surrounding area has a very typical European street feel which is very different from the islands.

Ferries are a great way to hop islands in Greece. You can buy tickets from the port or in advance online. Just make sure you see the timetable in advance when you are planning your holiday.